The world’s most influential name in live comedy, The Second City is overjoyed to announce the cast and crew of Live Sketch Comedy: The Second City’s 113th Mainstage Revue. Second City’s VP of Creative Jen Ellison directs this all-star ensemble featuring returning cast members Adonis Holmes, Hannah Ingle, Jordan Stafford, and Adisa Williams. Joining the cast are Second City Touring Company alum Bill Letz and e.t.c. alum Leila Gorstein. Devonte E. Washington joins the team as stage manager. Ryan Miera returns as music director, composer, and sound designer. Mainstage and e.t.c. alum Laurel Krabacher joins as Associate Director.
(Top) Leila Gorstein, Adonis Holmes, Hannah Ingle (Bottom) Bill Letz, Jordan Stafford, Adisa Williams
The Second City presents... Live Sketch Comedy: The Second City Mainstage’s 113th Revue! In the time-honored tradition of The Second City, YOU are invited to the exciting experience of watching and participating in our creative process. For a limited time, while the cast is creating and honing new material, audiences have the chance to participate in shaping new sketches, songs and characters being developed in real time! Your reactions, ideas, and energy will directly influence our milestone 113th Revue. This special time allows ticket holders an exclusive glimpse into the artistry and improvisation that has defined The Second City's legacy worldwide for 65 years.
The producing team includes Jen Ellison (VP, Creative), Thomas J. Troup II (Producer, Resident Stages), Elizabeth Howard (Executive Producer), Parisa Jalili (COO/CRO), and Ed Wells (CEO).
The Second City’s 113th Mainstage Revue plays Tuesday - Thursday 8pm, Friday - Sunday 7pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10pm. Located at 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago. Tickets, starting at $29, are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com. An official press opening will be announced at a later date.
About the Artists
Jen Ellison – Director (she/they) is the VP of Creative for all of Second City's locations (Chicago, Toronto, and NYC.) As a resident director for The Second City, Jen has overseen all three Touring Companies and directed Apes of Wrath (e.t.c.) and the Jeff Nominated Do the Right Thing, No Worries, If Not (Mainstage). In April of 2024, she directed the very first Mainstage Revue, Ruthless Acts of Kindness, at the Second City’s brand-new location in New York City. Other Chicago directing credits include Collaboraction, Emerald City, Trap Door Theatre, and The Neo-Futurists, where she is an artistic associate.
Leila Gorstein – Ensemble (she/her) grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and got her BA in Theater at Indiana University. Leila co-wrote and co-starred in Love Dump, a hallmark parody film, with her writing partner and co-star, Jesse Kendall, which was an official 2023 Slamdance Film Festival selection and winner of the audience award at MLFF. Leila performed with The Second City aboard the Norwegian Breakaway, toured with the Touring Company, and was an ensemble member of ETC's 47th Revue, Oh The Places You'll Glow, where Leila received a Jeff nomination for "Best Featured Performer." Listen to Leila and fellow cast member Hannah's podcast I Can't Wait To Tell You, where they spill juicy truths about art, life, and friendship.
Adonis Holmes – Ensemble (he/him) is a writer, performer, and comedian out of Chicago. Adonis graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign after having produced, directed, and written several shows in the Champaign-Urbana community. He started taking improv classes and regularly performing at the iO Theater. Adonis has been featured in several sketch shows throughout the city, including Chicago Sketch Fest and the Best of Annoyance Sketch Show, along with being a principal writer and performer for Second City’s Dance Like There are Black People Watching, and Black by Popular Demand. Currently Adonis is a member of Devil's Daughter Improv, the independent improv team The Mermaids, a 2022 Bob Curry Fellow, and serves as director and co-creator of the all-Black improv show, Satirical Race Theory. Adonis also served as the Co-Artistic Director of the iO Theater, and is a National Leaders of Color Fellow curated by the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF).
Hannah Ingle - Ensemble (she/her) originally from Missouri, Hannah has been living and performing in Chicago since 2014. Hannah is an alum of the Second City Touring company and has graced stages all around the city with her musical comedy duo Ruth & Elaine. You can also listen to Hannah and castmate Leila Gorstein’s real life best friendship on their podcast - I Can’t Wait To Tell You!
Bill Letz - Ensemble (he/him) was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. He’s trained at the Second City and iO and has been a part of so many wonderful shows and teams. He is an alum of the Mighty Mighty BlueCo Touring company where he got to laugh in hotel rooms across the country with only one noise complaint total. He has played a sexy firefighter on Chicago Fire and has been hit by a car on Chicago Med. Fingers crossed for the Dick Wolf trifecta!
Ryan Miera - Music Director (he/him) has been music directing in Chicago since 2006. He's directed music for The Second City, iO, The Annoyance, MCL, Baby Wants Candy, The Comedy Shrine, and has been the head music director at ComedySportz since 2010. He began professionally music directing with The Second City aboard the Norwegian Pearl. His band, Yellow Pills, can be heard on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music & Apple Music. They're currently on Mint 400 Records.
Jordan Stafford – Ensemble (he/him) is an actor, writer and illustrator born and raised in the dope dope city of Detroit, Michigan. Stafford is an alum of the Viacom CBS Showcase 2022 and The Second City’s Touring Company. He was also a 2022 New Faces Character in the Just For Laughs Festival held in Montreal. This is his third revue on the Mainstage.
Devonte E. Washington - Stage Manager (he/him) is a Chicago native, born and raised on the southside. This will be his 3rd year working at The Second City. He has stage managed the last 3 Black Excellence Revues as well as Dance Like There's Black People Watching at Woolly Mammoth in D.C. He has been working in production for over 10 years. He has molded his skills by learning the aspects of designing and building shows from scratch. His talents have been used with many events, venues and shows throughout the city.
Adisa Williams - Ensemble (she/her) - Ensemble (she/her) is your simple Jamaican, queer, autistic, eldest daughter next door. She is grateful to be doing comedy because she is living out her immigrant parents' wildest dream. (Ironically, they won’t let her quit). She’s trained and performed with: Second City TourCo, Annoyance Theatre, iO, Jet City Improv & ComedySportz Seattle. She’s releasing her first comedy album this year!
About The Second City
The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown to become the world's most influential name in improvisation and comedy. Celebrating 65 years, The Second City's stages, Touring Companies, and Training Centers across North America have proudly been the launch pad and artistic home for many of the funniest performers, writers, directors, and comedic minds on the planet.
For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.